Review: Sense and Sensibility by Joanna Trollope

From one of the most insightful chroniclers of family life working in fiction today comes a contemporary retelling of Jane Austen's classic novel of love, money, and two very different sisters

John Dashwood promised his dying father that he would take care of his half sisters. But his wife, Fanny, has no desire to share their newly inherited estate with Belle Dashwood's daughters. When she descends upon Norland Park with her Romanian nanny and her mood boards, the three Dashwood girls-Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret-are suddenly faced with the cruelties of life without their father, their home, or their money.

As they come to terms with life without the status of their country house, the protection of the family name, or the comfort of an inheritance, Elinor and Marianne are confronted by the cold hard reality of a world where people's attitudes can change as drastically as their circumstances.

With her sparkling wit, Joanna Trollope casts a clever, satirical eye on the tales of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Reimagining Sense and Sensibility in a fresh, modern new light, she spins the novel's romance, bonnets, and betrothals into a wonderfully witty coming-of-age story about the stuff that really makes the world go around. For when it comes to money, some things never change. . . .

Review: this was a highly anticipated read for me, and I actually eneded up reading this via audiobook. Firstly the audiobook was exceptionally well read, having listened to a couple of them recently which left a little to be desired, and secondly, I love the idea of the Austen project and can't wait for the next re imagining of an Austen classic! 

I've tried a couple of times to read the original sense and sensibility but always failed, again turning to the audiobook instead, I love the film starring Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant and I think Joanna Trollope must have loved it too because he Edward Ferrers was essentially Hugh grant! I found this incredibly amusing but as I probably picture him now as the illusion Mr F anway, I felt quite comfortable with that! A modernised Brandon and 'Wills' make for very different characters indeed, although one remains a true hero and the other a complete cad. I thought the girls translated into modern day living exceptionally well although I didn't find their characters as changed as the male characters in this book.

It was interesting hearing characters talk about texting someone, and something being all over you tube, and of course people travelled by plane in this book, I couldn't quite get my head around that. I dont really feel like i can evaluate the storyline as it has already been done but i really did enjoy listening to it from a different perspective.I think that this would be a really good introduction to Austen for someone who isn't as familiar with this story as it was incredibly easy to read/listen to. As an aside, I am completely in love with the cover of this book and that added to my enjoyment of it even more!